About

Underworld Ascendant

$860,356

pledged of $600,000 goal

13,987

backers

Thank you to all of our backers and fans for making the Underworld Ascendant Kickstarter an amazing success. We cannot express our gratitude enough. Now we will humbly begin the process of making the game all of us have been dreaming about for over 20 years.

This grand party will now move over to our we﻿bsite, where
we will continue to
keep you updated, continue to have live events, keep the chatter
going on our forums, and have new votes for you to share your voice.
Together, we will roll forward with the adventure of bringing
Underworld
Ascendant to
life!

In 1992, Ultima Underworld changed the rules of what a fantasy RPG
could be. It introduced the concept of 3D immersion, a player-authored
experience, and an open-world to explore. It is among the all-time greatest PC RPG’s ever made.

For two
decades this legend has been hidden away in the deepest vaults of its publisher. The game’s original creators, who founded LookingGlass and also designed
the classics System Shock and Thief, have at long-last unchained the
franchise.

Joining the original creators
are leading developers who have played key roles on modern greats, such as Dishonored, Last of Us and BioShock
Infinite. Together the
team is bringing to life the next generation of this landmark franchise, Underworld Ascendant!

Backing the game grants you unprecedented front row access to the creation of the next epoch of this storied masterpiece. With your help, here's a glimpse at what we can together build:

Exquisitely Realized Underworld – Plunge into The Stygian Abyss: dark, ripe with dangers, full of ancient secrets to discover. A vast subterranean fantasy world made startlingly real and alive.

Dynamic Factions – Become embroiled in an epic plot, as rival factions vie for dominance in struggles that ebb and flow across The Stygian Abyss. Your choices will alter the outcome in subtle and dramatic ways.

Improvisation Engine – Delight in player-authored gameplay taken to a whole new level, with a suite of technologies that empower you to solve challenges with astonishing ingenuity. Be the ‘MacGyver’ of a fantasy world.

Hero to Call Your Own – Jump right in as a Fighter, Thief or Mage. Then as your Avatar grows, freely mix and match across any skills to develop a unique hero, tailored to your style of play.

Pushing Boundaries – Stretch Goals will innovate on co-op play with a friend; letting you build your own corner of The Stygian Abyss; and more.

Some of the Stretch Goals unlock Kickstarter exclusive, in-game digital STRETCH GOAL items. Upon achieving a Stretch Goal, all backers at ADVENTURER Tier or higher will automatically receive such STRETCH GOAL item. While these items are fun and exclusive, mainly they are just cosmetically unique. None provide a competitive edge over players who might not have them, so as to keep the game balanced for all.

The original Ultima Underworld was released in 1992. Players and critics were blown away by this innovative take on a fantasy RPG. It was the first game to have a texture mapped first-person 3D world. Beyond its cutting-edge visuals, it heralded an era of sandbox, open-world play.

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The Underworld series continues to this day to inform modern game design. Here are a few games that credit it as an inspiration:

Here’s what some leading game developers say:

Richard Garriott (Ultima, Shroud of the Avatar) – “For those of us lifelong gamers that go back to the early days the Underworld franchise, created by Paul Neurath, represents a watershed event on what an immersive 3D true role-playing game can be. Personally I am as excited about Underworld returning as any game I can imagine.”

Ken Levine (BioShock) – “Underworld had a transformative effect on my understanding of what games were. It was the first time I ever felt ‘inside’ of an imaginary world. It was the game that primed all my creative ambitions.”

Chris Roberts (Star Citizen, Wing Commander) – “Underworld was the first truly 3D textured first person game… it influenced pretty much all first person 3D games that came afterwards.”

CLICK HERE to read more about what legendary game developers are saying.

Far
more than a dungeon crawl, Underworld
Ascendant is a
next-generation sequel to the legendary fantasy RPG’s Ultima
Underworld & Ultima
Underworld 2. It not
only modernizes the series’ visuals and user interface to take full
advantage of the today’s powerful PC’s, it innovates in bold new
ways.

Next Generation 3D Immersion

Here's how we’re going to raise the bar with the visuals of the game::

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THE
UNDERWORLD AS A CHARACTER

No
other game has such a vivid imagining of an underground fantasy realm
as Underworld Ascendant.
The Stygian Abyss is a vast world unto itself…

Face
monstrous creatures like the ripper,
a vicious, ambulatory
plant whose bark is prized by The Stygian Abyss’
intelligent races;
stay clear of mass
migrations of ravenous rotworms; dodge the giant spider’s sticky webs it casts through the air.

Alter
the environment to your advantage. Flood an arid plain to help the
damp-loving shamblers
expand their territory, gaining their favor. Changes
you make can ripple across the game's reactive,
ever-changing ecology, producing startlingly unpredictable results.

Get
drawn into an epic story with ties to the original Ultima
Underworld games. Play
as The Avatar, a human newly arrived from our earth through a
mystical Runegate. As
a “stranger in a strange land” you will:

Meet
shrewd characters, with their own motivations and agendas. Some may
be swayed to your cause, while others may manipulate you.

Encounter
rugged dwarf frontiersmen, fierce dark elf renegades, and strangely
alien shamblers. Each faction holds a valid claim to The Stygian
Abyss. Which side will you join? Will you unite, or destroy?

Entangle
yourself in a tale of intrigue and conflict as three fierce, rival
factions struggle for control.
Your choices will determine the ultimate fate of The Stygian Abyss.

The 3 main factions who vie for dominance of The Stygian Abyss

Runegates connect to other worlds as well, including the lands of
the Shroud of the
Avatar. Over the eons
travelers have spanned these worlds, including a band of rogue dark
elves who set themselves up in The Stygian Abyss. Discover
how these worlds have intertwined over the ages.

THE
IMPROVISATION ENGINE

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Do
you enjoy the freedom of choice in sandbox
games like Deus Ex
or Elder Scrolls?
The team at OtherSide in large part invented this style of experience
with the original Ultima
Underworld -- now
they intend to take it to the next level.

At
the heart of Underworld
Ascendant's
distinctive gameplay is the Improvisation
Engine,
which gives
you an array of tools to think up your own ingenious solutions
to challenges.

For instance, how
to cross a subterranean river guarded by deadly lurker?

Crave fellowship and a companion creature? Vote for the addition of a
vorpal bunny or mini-brain.

Use
the Underworld Builder Toolkit to craft your own corner of the
Stygian Abyss, and share it with friends.

Need
a fighter's prowess in combat, a mage’s spell craft, or a thief's
lock pick skills? Invite a friend to join you online for a cut of
the loot. All your buddies’ offline? Use a Doppelganger Gem to
borrow a friend's character as an invulnerable ethereal companion
AI.

CLICK
HERE to learn even more
about the game, and to see more videos, concept art, and
more!

The OtherSide Entertainment team members have worked on over 25 award-winning games. This includes such standout games as Ultima Underworld, System Shock, Thief, Deus Ex, GEX, Neverwinter Nights, Dishonored, Medal of Honor, Uncharted, Last of Us, Dungeons & Dragons Online, and BioShock Infinite to name some.

The team is headed up by Paul Neurath. Paul was the founder of Blue Sky Productions, where he came up with the concept of Ultima Underworld and oversaw its creation. Later Blue Sky became LookingGlass, one of the most renowned indie studios of the 1990’s. Paul continued to innovate, overseeing the development of such beloved games as System Shock and Thief. As founder of OtherSide Entertainment, Paul orchestrated the return of Underworld, and is once again setting the creative vision for the latest incarnation.

OtherSide takes a collaborative approach to development with small, tight-knit teams. Joining Paul is a team of superbly talented and proven game developers. Some played key roles on Ultima Underworld, System Shock,Thief and/or on more recent landmarks in the genre that have been influenced by these games. All share a passion for bringing Underworld back!

Below is visual summary of each Pledge Tier. You can also read more in-depth descriptions of the Rewards HERE.

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The Dark Elves of the Stygian Abyss are long sundered from their kinsman in the distant lands of the Shroud of the Avatar. This ‘Kinsman’ buckler has a solitary moonstone that will glow with the warmth of kinship if held by kin in both worlds. For any Backers who get a Kinsman Buckler in both games, theirs will glow as well. Even without the glow, this is a finely-crafted buckler that is agile to use, and offers effective protection considering its small size.

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It turns out that Bart had a wife. After Bart was turned into a chattering skull, his soon to be deceased wife insisted she too would be. The two can talk up a storm! Sadly, Jabbering Bertha got separated from Bart. Indeed, taken through a portal to the land of the Shroud of the Avatar. For any players who get Bertha as an Add-On in both games, the two will be reunited, and swap some unique quips. Not only that, but Bertha will put on her lipstick for Bart. Please just don’t make any ‘lipstick on a pig’ jokes, Bertha can be sensitive about her looks.

_________________________________________________________

Now you can get a
set of Banners, one for each of the 3 factions in the Abyss.These digital Add-Ons are vibrant standards
that, when raised by the player, help rally the enthusiasm of nearby members of
that faction.Wielding the banner of
your favorite faction can give your allies a slight edge in any contest of
wills.Just remember not to raise the
banner for the other side; unless you relish an extra dose of challenge.

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High-quality,
maroon Underworld Ascendant
t-shirt.Limited edition, Kickstarter
exclusive.Comes with a witty slogan,
chosen from a fan submission, on back of shirt.Will only be made available to our Kickstarter backers! Comes in sizes S,M,L & XL.Free shipping in US, $15 International.Must pledge at the $35 tier or higher to be
able to select this Add-On.

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Tracy Hickman’s Underworld Ascendant novel, which tells the story of how the Dark Elves made an exodus to the Stygian Abyss to escape their wizard overlord. DRM-free digital download version for $5.

_________________________________________________________

Tracy Hickman’s Underworld Ascendant novel, which tells the story of how the Dark Elves made an exodus to the Stygian Abyss to escape their wizard overlord. Hardcover special COLLECTOR’S EDITION for $45. FREE shipping in the US, additional $15 for International.

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Notes on Add-Ons

To add any of these unique items, when you are logged into your Kickstarter account, click on the blue MANAGE button at the top of this page. From there you can choose to set aside additional pledge funds for the Add-On. Once the Kickstarter campaign is over we'll be sending out a survey through which you will indicate which add-ons you want to buy with your pledge.

After many long
years we rescued the Underworld series from the publisher vaults. With your help, we
can embark on the next chapter with Underworld
Ascendant.

We got the ball
rolling with some funding of our own to get
development underway, building a playable prototype over the past 4
months. But to take the project through full production and deliver
the core PC game, we will need
the Kickstarter funding from our fans.

It goes beyond the
funding. We’d like you to join us on this creative journey,
experiencing first-hand the surprises and fun of genuine innovation.
This means having you VOTE on decision around features,
items, and creatures. Participating in our forums, livestreams and
developer blogs. Depending
on your pledge level you will have early access from beta builds to as early as pre-alpha prototype builds.

Don’t be shy.
Discuss on the forums, vote on the website! Get involved! We want to
hear your thoughts and ideas!

Risks and challenges

Software development is never certain, even more so when you’re trying to innovate. Projects can run late, run into technical hurdles. And it takes more than just getting the program to work, you’ve also got to make it fun! Never easy.

Our team does come to this project having delivered over 25 award-winning games, including the original Underworlds, and other more recent games in the genre. There’s a fair chance that we created or influenced some of the most-loved games in your collection. While this track record is no guarantee of success with Underworld Ascendant, it does give us a distinct edge.

Also we’re using tools, like the Unity Engine, that help offset some of the risks, and allow us to more rapidly prototype, test and iterate. We have been in development for four months now, and already have a number of our key systems in the prototype working. Next, we’ll stage our system trials to narrow down unknowns. At each step, your participation will help in refining the game further, which helps up the odds we’ll deliver on the fun.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 75 or more
About US$ 75

ADVENTURER

All of the above, PLUS:

EARLY ACCESS to pre-alpha build + Digital GAME CONCEPT ART PORTFOLIO with design notes from the team + Digital copy of the ORIGINAL ULTIMA UNDERWORLD and ULTIMA UNDERWORLD II for the PC + Get for FREE any digital STRETCH GOAL item that gets unlocked.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 125 or more
About US$ 125

This is a DIGITAL ONLY pledge tier that rewards ALL DIGITAL REWARDS IN ALL TIERS UP TO AVATAR. This includes Kickstarter exclusive in-game items. This tier does not grant any physical rewards.

Pledge tiers above the DIGITAL PROTAGONIST do not get anything from this tier.

This pledge tier gives you the following digital rewards:

Digital copy of UNDERWORLD ASCENDANT + Extra digital "vanilla" copy of UNDERWORLD ASCENDANT for a friend + ALL DIGITAL REWARDS from lower tiers + Get for FREE any digital STRETCH GOAL item that gets unlocked + RUBY BACKER BADGE for forum, with EXCLUSIVE access to special developer online roundtables during development of the game to share your design thoughts + EARLY ACCESS to pre-alpha build

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

LEGENDARY HERO

All of the above, PLUS:

Upgrade to COLLECTOR'S EDITION boxed version of UNDERWORLD ASCENDANT, with included PARCHMENT MAP + RUBY BACKER BADGE for forum, with EXCLUSIVE access to special developer online roundtables during development of the game to share your design thoughts + Your name in the game credits.

*KS EXCLUSIVE* - AMETHYST ANKH AMULET your character can wear in-game that plays a soft melody when treasure is near.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

AVATAR

All of the above, PLUS:

Printed COLLECTOR'S EDITION GAME CONCEPT ART PORTFOLIO with notes the art team + CD of Soundtrack + Your name carved and IMMORTALIZED on a stone monument in the Hall of Immortals + Receive all digital Kickstarter Add-On’s for FREE.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

LORE MASTER

All of the above, PLUS:

The other 2 LIMITED EDITION FIGURINES not selected at the LORE SEEKER pledge level + 2 extra Digital copies of UNDERWORLD ASCENDANT to share with family and friends + KS EXCLUSIVE, Paul Neurath will sign your Collector's Edition Box + Your name carved and IMMORTALIZED on a copper monument in the Hall of Immortals + Limited Edition LARGE POSTER suitable for framing + The faction of your choice will craft a special place of honor for you in their village, where you can always find rest and a fine banquet.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $750 or more
About $750

MASTER OF ALL

All of the above, PLUS:

Color 5” tall and finely detailed 3D PRINTED MODEL of your own player character from the game (shipped within 45 days of whenever we get the digital 3D model of your character) + Upgrade to Limited Edition EXTRA FANCY COLLECTOR'S EDITION of UNDERWORLD ASCENDANT signed by the Lead Designer, with included parchment map + Your name carved and IMMORTALIZED on a silver monument in the Hall of Immortals.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

ENLIGHTENED ONE

All of the above, PLUS:

Digital copy of every OtherSide game RELEASED FOR NEXT DECADE + Limited COLLECTOR'S EDITION GAME CONCEPT ART PORTFOLIO signed by the concept artist + Limited Edition LARGE POSTER suitable for framing, signed by the concept artist and numbered + Your name carved and IMMORTALIZED on an individual silver statue in the Underworld’s Hall of Immortals + Participate in EXCLUSIVE design brainstorm online group sessions with team members + You get to name a character, place or item in the Stygian Abyss that will be seen by other players.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,500 or more
About $1,500

VISIONARY

All of the above, PLUS:

A page of Underworld Ascendant themed HEROIC PROSE composed just for you, in collaboration with the game’s narrative writer, provided to you on a signed parchment, and also hung in the Hall of Immortals + Custom 7” tall, color 3D PRINTED MODEL of your own player character from the game (shipped within 45 days of whenever we get the digital 3D model of your character) + Your name carved and IMMORTALIZED on an individual gold statue in front ranks of the Underworld’s Hall of Immortals.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $3,000 or more
About $3,000

PATRON

All of the above, PLUS:

Receive an intricately-carved WOOD PATRON SCEPTRE + Participate in special conference call session with development team to provide YOUR INPUT ON GAME DESIGN + Custom piece of HEROIC THEME MUSIC composed just for you, in collaboration with the game’s musician, provided to you on a signed CD, and also performed by the bard in the Hall of Immortals + Your name carved and IMMORTALIZED on an individual ruby statue of your likeness in front ranks of the Underworld’s Hall of Immortals + PATRON CREDIT in-game.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,000 or more
About $5,000

NOBLE PATRON

All of the above, PLUS:

Custom piece of Underworld Ascendant THEME ART drawn just for you, in collaboration with the game’s concept artist, provided to you as an original and signed illustration suitable for framing, and also displayed in an Underworld gallery in-game + Come spend a day with the design team during development, and collaborate with either an artist, a level designer or a writer to ADD YOUR OWN STAMP TO THE GAME (travel and accommodations not included, or Skype in) + NOBLE PATRON CREDIT in-game.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $7,500 or more
About $7,500

LORD PATRON

All of the above, PLUS:

With your design input, one of our game designers will handcraft a LORDLY ABODE in the Underworld, named in your honor, for you and your friends to drop in and enjoy its opulence + YOUR LIKENESS (or a friend’s or relative’s who consents) will be used on an NPC in the game + LORD PATRON CREDIT in-game.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $10,000
About $10,000

ROYAL PATRON

All of the above, PLUS:

Join us for the over-the-top Underworld Ascendant LAUNCH PARTY! Spend a day with the team, talk games, play a board game, share your thoughts for what OtherSide does next (travel and accommodations not included) + Special secret treat + ROYAL PATRON CREDIT in-game.